A Question about the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID used with an M1 MacBook Air

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A Question about the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID used with an M1 MacBook Air

If I shut the machine down and leave it open, pressing the Touch ID key starts it up. If it's up and running and something errant causes a lockup, I can press and hold the Touch ID key for 10 seconds to blow the machine down.

I also use the MacBook closed and docked to a CalDigit TS3-Plus using a Satechi keyboard. I obviously can't use the internal keyboard, so I put the machine to sleep before docking it and put it to sleep rather than shut it down when ending a docked session.

The question (finally!):

If I use a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID when docked, will the Touch ID key act as a power button?

TIA!

Posted on Mar 21, 2022 1:34 PM

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Answer 1

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kbcons Author

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Mar 22, 2022 5:26 PM in response to John Galt

There's $200 that doesn't do what I wanted.

Actually, the Magic Keyboard Touch ID key does NOT start the computer from off. Only from sleep. Whether docked or not.

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Answer 2

Mar 23, 2022 5:19 AM in response to kbcons

Sorry I didn't see this early but it doesn't start a powered down MacBook Air. However, all the other TouchID actions will work such as Wake from sleep and return from Lock Screen.

FWIW, I never sleep my M1 MacBook Air. I always just use Lock Screen.

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